SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Tavien Feaster #28 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after defeating the against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi's Stadium on January 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide with a score of 44 to 16.
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Clemson has incredible depth at running back, as it does at many important positions. Unfortunately for the Tigers, it appears that they may lose Tavien Feaster as a result.

The productive transfer has a number of big programs interested in his services. The most intriguing, given its relationship with his alma mater: South Carolina.

The Tigers and Gamecocks are heated rivals, and face off in a non-conference rivalry game every year in the last weekend of the regular season. A transfer to Columbia means Feaster would face his alma mater, on the other side of a game he participated in three times.

This past season, he ran for 63 yards and a touchdown on nine carries against the Gamecocks. He has two career scores against USC.

Dabo Swinney reacted to the possibility that Tavien Feaster could head down to the hated rival South Carolina Gamecocks.

As you’d expect, he was very diplomatic, and said that he would still “love” his former running back.

“It does not make me love him any less. It does not make me appreciate him any less,” the Clemson coach said. “He is one of the best young men that I have had. He is going to graduate this summer. If that is what is on his heart and he feels like that is what he needs to do, then all you can do is support him.

“Again, I am disappointed (he is leaving), but it does not make me love him any less and it should not make anyone else love him any less regardless of where he goes. He has done a phenomenal job in his time here. He has been a model guy and I wish him nothing but the best wherever he might go.”

A pair of Feaster’s Clemson teammates have taken a similar stance, in response to a critical tweet from the Barstool Sports Clemson Twitter account. Via 247: